Indicator for picture theater programs



Oct. 15, 1940. A. e. GROSS 2,217,902

INDiCATOR FOR PICTURE THEATER PROGRAMS Filed Jan. 23, 1939 Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INDICATOR FoR PICTURE THEATER PROGRAMS This invention relates to a device for indicating the point to which the performance of a program has progressed; and while the invention may be adapted for other uses, it is particularly 6 adapted for use with moving picture theaters, to indicate to a person entering a theater, whether he will be obliged to sit through the ending of a certain item or feature of the program before the beginning of the next item. The general object 10 of the invention is to provide a simple device for performing this function.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple mechanism which can be employed as an attachment to the minute shaft of an ordinary clock; for example, an electric clock, to adapt the same for indicating the immediate status of a program that is being presented in a theater; also to provide the device with means for indicating approximately the number of minutes that will elapse before the feature being shown will be ended.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel parts and combination of parts to be described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an efficient indicator for picture theater programs.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following specification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is afront elevation of an embodiment of the invention in which the construction is such as to enable the device to be operated by the minute shaft of a clock, and indicating a, dial card with divisions upon the same corresponding to the periodsof time that will be consumed in presenting the different features of the program.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken about on the line 2--2 of Figure 1, through the device illustrated in Figure 1, and illustrating the driving mechanism which I attach to the minute hand of the clock to enable the device to function.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic view indicating the relation of the back gearing through which the pointer of the device is actuated.

Before proceeding to a more detailed descrip- 00 tion of the invention, it should be stated that in accordance with the invention, I provide a card on which divisions are provided dividing the card into spaces that are porportional to the period of time that will be consumed in presenting the different features. These spaces are provided with legends indicating the different features, and the different items of, the program follow each other in the order in which they follow each other on the screen or stage. Over the card an indicating member travels in the proper direction at such 5 a speed that it will complete its cycle of movement in the time required to show the entire program.

While the device operating on this principle may have any desired specific construction, thelO invention is most readily practiced by employing a card in the form of a disc or dial on which segmental spaces are provided corresponding to the different features, and covering an angle representing the period of time to be consumed in the 15 presentation ofeach feature, the entire length of the program being represented by the 360 of the disc, or dial.

When the device employs such a dial, I prefer to provide driving mechanism for the pointer, or 20 hand, which can readily be attached to the minute shaft of an ordinary clock, or an electric at the front of the clock, the time consumed for 25 the pointer to complete its cycle, may be regulated as desired; for example, three hours, and variations of that period.

Referring now to the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, l indicates the face 30 plate of the device which is formed with a central opening 2 back of which a dial card 3 is supported on a metal dial 4, which would ordinarily be, or correspond to, the dial of .the clock. The dial card 3 is provided with division lines 5 such as the lines 5, 6 and 1 that divide the face of the dial into angular or segmental spaces A, B and C, to correspond to the period of time consumed in presenting the different features of the program; for example, the division A may repre- 40 sent the time that would be consumed in presenting the feature A Christmas Carol. The relatively small space B would carry sufficient angle to cover the time required for presenting the "news feature of the program, and the space C 45 would correspond to a second feature; for example, a play having any title, such as that indicated.

In the present instance I provide a hand, or pointer, 8, that rotates on the central axis of the 0 dial, and I provide simple means for utilizing the minute shaft 9 of an electric clock ID, to drive the pointer 8 through one complete revolution in the time required to present the entire program. Such a clock usually carries an hour hand gear 55 II that makes two complete revolutions in a day. This gear is driven by a clock gear Ha, and is carried on a sleeve I2 rotatably mounted in a bushing I3 that is set in the forward wall l4 of the clock casing. The minute shaft 9 projects up through this sleeve I2 but is of considerably smaller diameter than the sleeve.

In providing back gearing for driving the pointer 8, I provide a driving gear l5 which fits over and is tight on the upper end of the sleeve I2, and I also mount in the forward wall [4, a bushing I6 carrying a pinion II. The driving gear I5 and the driven pinion I I, have a ratio of 4:1. The shaft l8 of the pinion carries a removable gear wheel I9 that meshes with a gear wheel of the same diameter that is removably mounted on a tubular shaft 2| that fits loosely over the upper end of the minute shaft 9 and loosely within the sleeve 12. The gears I9 and 2c are held in place by nuts that clamp them in position. The shaft 2i, however, has an upwardly projecting central hub or pintle 22 on which the sleeve of the pointer 8 fits frictiontight. With this arrangement of mechanism it will be evident that if the gears I9 and 20 are of equal diameter, the pointer 8 will make one revolution in three hours. This will correspond to the average moving picture program, but if other periods such as two hours and a half, or three hours and a half, are found in practice, the hand 8 can readily be driven at the required speed by changing the ratio of the two gears I9 and 2i].

The pointer 8, of course, is readily removable from the pintle or hub 22, so that when the glass on the clock is removed, the card 3 can be readily put in position.

After the card is put in position, as soon as the showing of the program commences, the hand 8 would be pushed around to the point on the dial indicated by the legend Start. As the time elapses, the pointer 8 will, of course, travel in the direction indicated by the arrows on the dial. In order to enable a person who looks at the indicator to know approximately how much time must elapse before a certain feature will end that is being shown at the moment, I prefer to provide the edge of the dial card with a scale indicating approximately the minutes that will be consumed in finishing the reel that is being shown.

What I claim is:

1. In a picture theater program indicator, the combination of a dial having a card thereon with divisions dividing the entire circumference of the same into spaces proportional to the period of time to be consumed in presenting a featured item and the other items composing the entire cycle of the program and arranged in the same order in which the several items of the program follow each other, a rotary pointer mounted to travel over the said card, means for driving the pointer over the card at a faster speed than the hour hand of a clock, and in time with the presentations, and so that the pointer completes its cycle of movement in the same period of time that is consumed in completing the presentation of all the said items in succession, and a legend on the card adjacent the division that indicates the ending of the said featured item to cooperate with the pointer to indicate the length of time which will elapse before the presentation of the feature will end.

2. In a picture theater program indicator, the combination of a dial card with divisions dividing the same into spaces proportional to the period of time to be consumed in presenting the different items composing the entire cycle of the program and arranged in the same order in which the several items of the program follow each other, a clock case having a front wall adjacent the said dial, and a minute-hand shaft projecting through the said front wall, an hour gear, back gearing driven by the same and mounted on the said front wall, a rotatably mounted driven hub in alignment with the said shaft and driven by the said back gearing, and an indicating pointer friction-tight on the said hub and driven by the said back gearing over the said card in time with the presentations and so that the pointer completes its cycle of movement in the same period of time that is consumed in completing the presentation of said items.

3. In a picture theatre program, the combination of a card, an indicator member having a path of travel over the face of said card, the entire path of travel of said indicator member having divisions, each of which represents a portion of the program, and dividing the entire path of the pointer into spaces proportional to the period of time to be consumed in presenting in succession all the diiferent items composing the entire cycle of the program, and arranged in the same order in which the several items of the program follow each other, and means for driving the indicating member along its path so that it completes its cycle of movement in the same period of time that is consumed in completing the presentation of all the program items in succession.

4. In a picture theatre program indicator, the combination of a dial card with divisions dividing the same into spaces proportional to the period of time to be consumed in presenting the different items composing the entire cycle of the program and arranged in the same order in which the several items of the program follow each other, a clock case having a frame plate, and a minute-hand shaft, an hour gear, back gearing driven by the same and mounted on the said frame plate, a rotatably mounted driven hub in alignment with the said shaft and driven by the said back gearing, and an indicating pointer friction-tight on the said hub and driven by the said back gearing over the said card in time with the presentations and so that the pointer completes its cycle of movement in the same period of time that is consumed in complating the presentation of said items.

ARTHUR G. GROSS. 

